What the papers say

Journalist Keith Baker takes a look at what is making the headlines in Monday's morning newspapers.

There are a lot of pictures this morning of the Queen and Prince Charles at the Cenotaph yesterday. Paul Callan, writing in the Express, says it was not just the solemnity of the day which was reflected on the Queen's face.

"There was a pinched weariness, a gaunt look haunting her," he says. "She looked like a woman who spends her nights wrestling with worry."

The Mail says that as she led the tributes to Britain's fallen, she would have been less than human if her thoughts didn't turn occasionally to other less elevated matters.

No prizes for guessing what those matters might be.

Palace panic

Everywhere there are reports of the latest sensation in the wake of Paul Burrell's allegations in the Mirror.

"Charles's aide denies rape claim" is the headline in the Daily Telegraph.

"Panic grips the Palace" is how the Mail describes it.

The Independent writes of what it calls another tawdry weekend in the strange relationship between the tabloid press and the Royals.

The family are out of touch with reality, it says, and it singles Prince Charles out for most comment.

The paper thinks it would be a good idea to get rid of the vast army of servile retainers whose deference contributes to the rotten unreality of palace life.

"A nest of vipers", the Sun calls them. "The Queen should clear them out", it says.

Intrigue

The Daily Telegraph talks of the institution of the monarchy, sometimes known as The Firm, failing to work in the interests of the share-holders, namely the British public.

As for Prince Charles, it says the world of St James's Palace appears to be one of intrigue, bitchiness and rivalry, a world in which, so long as the master and his lady are happy, anything goes.

The News Letter has a front page picture of Johnny Adair and John White attending a UDA Remembrance Day event on the Shankill Road yesterday.

Both Belfast papers report that at another commemoration somewhere on the Shankill, shots were fired into the air.

"Loyalists defy police with show of strength" is the Irish News headline.

But the News Letter quotes one source who says - "Loyalists throughout Northern Ireland are totally disgusted by this. This was a day when guns are put down to remember, not raised."

Among the services yesterday was one in Dublin, attended by President Mary McAleese.

'Tough race'

It's five years today since she took on that role and the Irish News reports that she's likely to seek a second term.

The paper says she has another two years to make up her mind but it quotes an insider as saying - if she does run, she'll make it a tough race for the other candidates.

There's anger in the Irish News over the weekend incident in Andersonstown when a woman was attacked and raped by three men.

The paper says it's essential that the police are given every possible assistance in their investigation.

And when the cuplrits are caught, it says it hopes they'll get sentences which act as a deterrent and reflect the appalling nature of the crime.

The News Letter backs the chief constable's plan to buy new helicopters to accelerate the offensive against criminal gangs and paramilitaries.

At £3m each and £700,000 a year to maintain, they don't come cheap, it says, but they're a powerful weapon.

The paper supports Mr Orde for being prepared to take whatever steps are necessary.

"Organised crime can be a difficult nut to crack but it can be done."